The following article(s) are protected from editing by certain member groups. This is necessary in some cases to prevent disruptive editing or if they contain sensitive information. Protection is a technical restriction applied only by administrators, although any user may request protection. Protection can be indefinite or expire after a specified time.
Key Elements of Protected Articles- Protection Levels:
- Fully Protected: Only administrators or specified users can edit these articles. This is often used for high-profile pages or those subject to repeated vandalism.
- Semi-Protected: Editing is restricted to users who have been registered and confirmed for a certain period, preventing changes from new or anonymous users.
- Reasons for Protection:
- Preventing Disruption: Articles that attract frequent vandalism or edit wars (disagreements leading to repeated changes) are protected to maintain stability.
- Preserving Accuracy: Content that requires expert oversight or is part of official documentation may be protected to ensure high standards of accuracy.
- Sensitive Topics: Pages on controversial or high-profile topics, such as political issues, famous individuals, or current events, might be protected to prevent biased or harmful edits.
- Requesting Protection:
- Any user can request protection for an article if they observe consistent disruptive behavior. These requests are reviewed by administrators, who assess the need based on evidence.
- Duration of Protection:
- Indefinite Protection: Reserved for articles requiring long-term safeguarding, like platform policies or highly sensitive topics.
- Temporary Protection: Applied for a specific period to allow contentious issues to settle or until disruptive behaviors subside.
- Transparency and Accountability:
- Protection logs or notices are typically displayed on the article page, explaining the reasons for protection and the duration.
- Users may appeal for the removal or modification of protections by engaging with administrators through established processes.
- Community Involvement:
- Though protected, such articles remain open to improvement. Contributors can suggest edits or corrections through discussion pages or by submitting edit requests to administrators or designated users.